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On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.

First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.

Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.

The Pitch: Boy, Girl, or Bro — Pledge Delta Bi

There may be no greater false equivalence in American culture than that of fraternities and sororities.

For most men, the undergrad Greek system is a four-year “Wolf of Wall Street” homage featuring sticky floors, over-priced ambulance rides, and the occasional Title IX investigation. For most women, it’s a cultish reinforcement of sexist ideals requiring expensive uniforms, ritualistic dance, and performative crying over handmade crafts.

That was my experience as a pretentious college kid in the mid-2010s, anyway. Despite having never earnestly...

If 1899’s creators had been specifically instructed to make a TV series that’s impossible to watch while scrolling on your phone, they couldn’t have done a better job. This eight-episode mystery series demands full attention. Not only does its story slide between flashbacks, hallucinations, weird visual motifs and eye-widening cliffhanger twists, its huge cast of characters also all speak different languages. Viewers not fluent in German, Spanish, French, Swedish, Polish, English and more will need their reading glasses handy.

They’ll want them too, because 1899, from the makers of hit Netflix series Dark, is a terrific-looking show and an intriguing puzzle to solve. It’s the story of the Kerberos, a steamship transporting 1,400 passengers from Southampton to New York City on the cusp of the 20th century. Four months earlier, another of the company’s ships went missing, so when the Kerberos receives a set of mysterious coordinates,...

Stars: Alec Owen, Ben Gigli, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Greg Sestero, Erik Sandoval, Chelsea St. John, Skyler Rousselet, Larry King, Logan Olson, Jon Worley, Matt Hargreaves, Ian Ahern, Lily Cade, Laura Lee Cebrick, Ela Darling | Written by 5-Second Films | Directed by Tomm Jacobsen, Michael Rousselet, Jon Salmon

Is Dude Bro Party Massacre III the first Oscar worthy film of the year? In short, yes.

Created as what seemed like a dare by the online comedy group, 5-Second Films, this retro 80′s slasher flick harkens back to a simpler, blood-splattered time, when sex and violence worked hand-in-hand and fraternity jocks in tight shorts would high-five each other and take showers together without a hint of erotic irony. The story is told as sort of a “lost film”. It goes like this; President Regan had the film banned and all copies destroyed. Only one public broadcast station played the movie late at night...

The title says it all.

When a movie is called Dude Bro Party Massacre III and there have not been two previous Dude Bro Party movies, you know one of two things: either you need to see this movie as soon as possible or it is not for you. It is the first movie from 5 Second Films (5Sf), a comedy site and collective of actors and filmmakers who have been posting short videos online since the mid-2000s but are finally branching out into features. It is gory and ridiculous and absolutely recommended for fans of '80s horror or absurdist comedy. It's even better if you're a fan of both.

The conceit of the film is that it's the second sequel to an '80s slasher called Dude Bro Party and that the only remaining copy left in the world exists because a kid taped it off of TV in the '80s,...

In two weeks, vampires, cannibals, Halloween frights and more will grace the screen at the Muvico Theater in Rosemont, Illinois for Bruce Cambell's Horror Film Festival. Now a telekinetic kid and and an apocalypse have joined the killer lineup, as both June and JeruZalem will make their U.S. premieres at the festival.

Press Release: "Chicago, Illinois (August 6, 2015) – The second annual Bruce Campbell Horror Film Festival presented by Wizard World, running August 20 – 23 at the Muvico Theater in Rosemont, Illinois (9701 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont), is proud to announce the addition of two more films to the already bursting schedule.

June, starring Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers) and Kennedy Brice (The Walking Dead), tells the story of nine-year-old June (Brice), who has been shuffled in and out of foster homes for years. Though she tries to be good, no matter where she goes a trail of chaos and terror seems to follow.

One month from now, Bruce Cambell's Horror Film Festival will take over the Muvico Theater in Rosemont, Illinois and they've announced killer lineup that includes Tales of Halloween, a screening of Fright Night with a Q&A from Tom Holland, and Eli Roth introducing Cannibal Holocaust:

"Chicago, July 22, 2015 – The second annual Bruce Campbell Horror Film Festival presented by Wizard World, running August 20 – 23 at the Muvico Theater in Rosemont, Illinois (9701 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont), promises thrills, chills, guests and surprises to Chicago’s legions of horror fans. The four-day event, programmed by The Awesome Fest, will coincide with Wizard World Chicago and offers convention-goers and ticket holders a chance to sit back, relax, and lose their minds.

“You can have your rom-coms, your indie darlings and your blockbusters,” remarks Bruce Campbell. “I’ll take a good old-fashioned horror movie any day or night of the week!”

“With this program we...

Break out the pastel polo shirts and grab your beer bongs – it’s time for some unadulterated bro-on-bro horror from the guys over at 5-Second Films. Packed with bare-chested dudes and a lackadaisical assault on the English language, Dude Bro Party Massacre III is a hilarious spoof of every 80s slasher flick you’ve ever seen. We could spend hours listing all the schlocky classics that influenced this “long lost” VHS splatterfest, as the 5-Second team put their own gratuitously homoerotic spin on one of horror’s more well-known subgenres. It’s stickier than a beer-coated frat house basement, bloodier than a sorority catfight, and dumber than a 9th-year senior – exactly how a dude bro party should go down.

The legend of the “Dude Bros” is one that history almost forgot, since the first two Dude Bro Party Massacre films were lost forever. Dude Bro Party Massacre III, the only remaining franchise entry,...

Today, 5 Second Films’ feature movie debut, Dude Bro Party Massacre III, will be released on both iTunes and via the film’s official site. The throwback slasher comedy recently premiered during the 2015 Los Angeles Film Fest and Daily Dead had the opportunity to catch up with the three of the cast members from Dude Bro Party Massacre III: Alec Owen, Paul Prado and Olivia Taylor Dudley.

During our interview, we spoke to the trio about their experiences working together on Dude Bro Party Massacre III, including the shorthand the entire cast and crew shared while collaborating on the film due to their work at 5 Second Films over the years. They also discussed the importance of fans and giving back to them as well as keeping their characters grounded, regardless of how ridiculously over-the-top things got in their zany horror comedy.

For more information on Dude Bro Party Massacre III and its release this week,...

Since Hollywood appears to be suffering from an infectious and soul-ripping epidemic of unoriginality, the ideal place to look for a vibrant antidote is as far away from conventional manufacturing as possible. Sometimes Sundance-indie doesn't cut it and the real pockets of unhindered creativity are found in a rogue, untamable, and bottomless fountain -the internet.

5-Seconds Films, or 5sf for the YouTube connoisseur, is a group of filmmakers, writers, and actors that have amassed an insanely loyal following by making just that: bite size content no longer than five seconds. Their material is extremely raunchy and gory, but effectively hilarious. Each miniature story manages to deliver a satisfying punch line by outrageously mocking any and every aspect of life. Nothing is sacred or too much for these guys.

Ballsy creators like 5sf are products of the no-policy policy of online platforms. It's freedom on steroids and they are taking advantage of it. No censors or ratings or much content supervision that would prevent them from showing violence and depravity to their liking. And that's fantastic. Their first feature film, which they consider to be a seamless progression, is a horror spoof that will have you laughing hysterically while simultaneously asking yourself what the f**k is going on but not really caring for answer. "Dude Bro Party Massacre III," directed by Tomm Jacobsen, Michael Rousselet, and Jon Salmon, announces itself as a murderous trip into brilliant absurdity by the hand of a group of beer-loving, sex-obsessed, hypermasculine, immature frat boys - and it delivers on its promise.

Its opening frames explain that the film we are about to watch was recorded on a VHS by a teenager staying up late and it’s the only existing copy in existence of the terrifying third installment of this bloody franchise. Clearly the other parts don’t actually exist, but for the sake of the farcical urban legend the filmmakers use the first few minutes to recap what happened in the first two massacres to give some ridiculously intricate context. Note that entire film is designed to look like an actual beat up and scratched VHS tape, a stylistic choice that’s perfectly appropriate for a project of its kind.

According to the brief summary of the past, non-existence, chapters in this bro-driven saga, the source of evil is a deranged female killer known as Motherface (Olivia Taylor Dudley), whose mission is to make the bros from the Delta Bi frat, attending school in Chico, California, suffer in revenge for their selfish, insensitive, and unpunished antics. She has murdered tons of douchebags and she is coming for more. While the original incarnation of Motherface was successfully killed before, another woman always picks up where she left off wearing the ominous, cheesy, and wrinkly mask. During the last rampage, Brock (Alec Owen), one of the most popular guys in the bropack, was one of the victims. Now his identical twin brother, Brent Chrino (also played by Owen), has come to find out who is behind his death and avenge him.

That's, of course, the most reasonable description of the origin story one can provide. As the plot unfolds and the increasingly jaw-dropping situations stack up, coherence becomes diluted. However, there is always just enough narrative glue binding it all together for it to actually feel like a story with a structure. Every element on screen pays off eventually often presenting unforeseeable outcomes - all of them viciously funny.

Brent tries to blend in with his newly found peers, some of which often confuse him with his more outgoing and machismo-fueled sibling. The array of stereotypical young males populate the house include Turbeaux (Paul Prado), an angry and homophobic dude with a dark secret, Derek (Greg Sestero), the most relaxed and almost-sane member of this drunken clan, Sizzler (Jimmy Wong), the frat’s pledge who is brutally hazed, Samzy (Ben Gigli), Brock's neurotic best friend, or Todd (Joey Scoma), a virgin who prefers to spend time with his bros that with his girlfriend Samantha (Kelsey Gunn) – a self proclaimed female-dude or dudette.

Bonding is crucial for this collection of sociopaths, and a trip to a cabin in the woods is an ideal setting for some testosterone-friendly stupidity - as well as their well-deserved deaths. On their way there they come across people who have been victims of their reckless actions, such as a man who lost his entire family in a disaster caused by the dude bros. But their reign of infuriating obliviousness will come an end when their trip becomes a bloodbath. Motherface isn’t happy and retribution is what she is after.

As bats**t crazy and irreverent as it all sounds, there is sharp social commentary here, though it’s buried under some of the most outrageous twists ever to be pulled off by any film of any kind. Nonsensical, yes, but through the baffling actions of these obnoxious bros, the filmmakers cleverly criticize the extent of white male privilege. Bro culture is often associated with blatant entitlement and reveling on the lack on consequences certain destructive behaviors enjoy. Spring break, sports events, house parties, college itself, and any other bro-habitat out there, has to suffer from their intoxicated disregard for others that only gets addressed with a slap on the wrist. But not in “Dude Bro Party Massacre 3,” their own clichéd ways of having fun will become their demise. Impunity doesn't have a place here, only grotesque ways to die. Granted, the film is evidently generalizing and it's extreme, but this is a spoof on the vein of “Wet Hot American Summer,” so anything goes.

And since anything is fair game, cameos are prominent and they are equally as unexpected as most of the plot points in this marvelously messy treat of a film. Patton Oswalt appears as the mastermind behind the dude bros annihilation, and he is excellent. Throw in Larry King and Andrew W.K. and you’ve got the perfect complements to go alongside the rest of the up-and-coming cast. Olivia Taylor Dudley, Prado, and Owen do a fantastic job at playing their parts with assertiveness in spite of the insane concept they are a part of. In a smaller, but noteworthy part, Brian Firenzi as Officer Sminkle gives a performance that is, no say the least, hard to forget.

From an industry point of view "Dude Bro" is a prime example of the miracles of crowdfunding and fan-supported content for fan-consumption. Their end credits are mostly constructed of an interminable list of Kickstarter supporters that became invested in the 5-Secong Films via their daily YouTube videos. It’s a built-in audience that become financiers in the projects they want to see on screen –any screen- regardless of how far removed from traditional production models these are. To go from a cell phone screen to a major festival’s program is not the norm, but when the content is this fresh, that transition feels earned.

“Dude Bro Party Massacre III” thrives on its imperfections and unthinkable gags that demonstrate, if briefly, that not everything has been done already. Its form and its ideas come together in a disgusting, profane, vulgar, and psychotic concoction that will become, without a doubt, an instant cult classic. Midnight screenings have a new twisted masterpiece for the enjoyment of all those who hate conventional trash and love to throw s**t at the screen.

The film will be releasing on VOD via iTunes and the film’s website (www.dudebropartymassacre3.com) on July 7th...

For July 2015, we’ve got another jam-packed month of genre-related titles arriving on VOD (and a few other digital platforms too) to help fans beat the summer heat by staying inside and catching up on tons of great new movies.

IFC Midnight’s got a zany new creature feature called Stung that’s kicking off the month and for those of you who may have missed it in theaters earlier this year, the acclaimed breakout indie film It Follows is finally making its way to homes on VOD beginning July 2nd. Some other notable July VOD releases include 3-Headed Shark Attack, Felt, Alleluia, The Stanford Prison Experiment, Dark Was the Night, and Extinction.

Also, Dude Bro Party Massacre III - which premiered earlier this month at the Los Angeles Film Festival - is gearing up for its release as well in July; it won’t be arriving on traditional VOD platforms,...

The safe handling instructions printed on the inside of these egg cartons are there for a reason. Neca's Xenomorph Egg Set is due out in September. Also: a Dude Bro Party Massacre III clip and Star Wars Rebels Season 1 home media release details.

Alien Xenomorph Egg and Facehugger Set: The Xenomorph Egg and Facehugger Set comes with a total of 9 items and includes a collectible carton for storage.

According to Neca, “New from Weyland-Yutani, these eggs are sourced directly from Lv-426, where Xenomorphs are allowed to roam freely without being confined to cramped cages. Buy cage-free and support our efforts to study and protect this gentle, misunderstood species. Warning: see packaging for safe handling instructions. Weyland-Yutani is not responsible for any spaceship infestation or planetary destruction that may occur.”

"From the terrifying Alien movie series, this set includes 6 Xenomorph eggs and 3 facehuggers with bendable tails. They make great diorama pieces...

With a name like Dude Bro Party Massacre III, you can pretty much guess what kind of cinematic experience you’re in for right from the start. And while the filmmaking team behind the comedic slasher do an admirable job with their execution for the darkly satirical horror parody, they also end up creating a story that’s uniquely charming with its own off-kilter sensibilities, featuring tons of ambitious and over-the-top gore gags along the way, as well as numerous wickedly fun callbacks to all the great (and terrible) slasher movies of yesteryear. Essentially, Dude Bro Party Massacre III feels like a movie you’d expect from the lovable loonies over at Troma and certainly lives up to the wildly outrageous expectations you’d have going into a film about dudes and bros getting massacred.

Dude Bro Party Massacre III opens with a text crawl explaining how the film was...

Presented as a 1980s horror film on VHS, the horror comedy Dude Bro Party Massacre III takes a delightfully over-the-top, blood-splattered approach to the slasher sub-genre in its full-length trailer.

"A satirical twist on the gory and sexually charged 1980’s slasher genre, Dude Bro Party Massacre III is presented as the only surviving VHS copy of the reviled horror franchise’s third, and final, installment.

In the wake of two back-to-back mass murders on Chico’s frat row, loner Brent Chirino must infiltrate the ranks of a popular fraternity to investigate his twin brother's murder at the hands of the serial killer known as Motherface.

As they are picked off one by one, Brent and his fellow Dude Bros must face the terrifying reality that their deadly foe, believed to have been killed (twice!), has returned from the grave (again!), and is hell-bent on the destruction of the Delta Bis.

After making quite an impression at the Stanley Film Festival, Todd Strauss-Schulson's meta horror hit, The Final Girls, will screen at the L.A. Film Fest next month, along with an advance look at MTV's Scream TV series and many more onscreen scares.

The 21st L.A. Film Fest takes place June 10th-18th in downtown Los Angeles. The festival will feature screenings of 74 feature films, 60 short films, and more, including the following genre offerings:

"Gala Screenings:

The Final Girls – USA (Director Todd Strauss-Schulson Writer Producer Cast Taissa Farmiga, Malin Akerman, Adam Devine, Thomas Middleditch, Alia Shawkat, Alexander Ludwig, Nina Dobrev) – An unconventional comedy about Max, a high school senior, who is mysteriously transported with her friends into a 1980s horror film that starred Max’s mother, a celebrated scream queen. Los Angeles Premiere

Scream – USA (Showrunners Jill Blotevogel, Jaime Paglia Writers Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin Executive Producers Harvey Weinstein,...